Baseball Bo`s Attorney Denies Getting Ultimatum From The Royals

BRIEFING

January 14, 1988

Bo Jackson has received a letter from the Kansas City Royals giving him ``full permission`` to continue playing baseball and football, his attorney said Wednesday. Richard Woods said he got the letter Wednesday from Royals co- owner Avron Fogelman ``apologizing for any misunderstanding relating to having to choose between baseball and football. Fogelman caused controversy earlier this week when he said he planned to meet with Jackson this summer and tell him he ``has to decide if he wants to be a baseball player or not.`` Jackson batted .235 with 22 home runs and 53 RBI last season, but slumped badly after the All-Star break, about the time he signed with the Los Angeles Raiders. . .

Charlie Hough, Texas` all-time leading winner, agreed to terms on a contract extension. Hough, 40, who posted an 18-13 record with a 3.79 ERA in 40 starts in 1987, received a guaranteed contract for 1989 and an option for 1990. The option year is the Rangers`. Hough has a record of 149-128 and is 102-82 since joining the Rangers in July 1980. . .

The Atlanta Braves announced that four players, including outfielder Dion James, agreed to contract terms for the 1988 season. Also signed were pitcher Charlie Puleo, outfielder Terry Blocker and second baseman Mark Lemke. James led the Braves in hitting last season with a .312 average. He also had 10 home runs and 61 RBI. . .

Cincinnati signed left-handed pitcher Dennis Rasmussen to a one-year contract worth $457,500. Rasmussen came to the Reds from the New York Yankees in an Aug. 26 trade for right-hander Bill Gullickson. Rasmussen had been 9-7 with a 4.75 ERA in 26 games for the Yankees and 4-1 with a 3.97 ERA in seven games with the Reds..

NFL INFLATED SUPER BOWL TICKETS OUT OF REACH FOR AVERAGE FAN

Profiteers and a smaller stadium have combined to drive up the market price of Super Bowl tickets, effectively putting them out of reach of the average fan. An end-zone seat is going for $800 and a seat on the 50-yard line costs up to $2,000 at Murray`s Tickets in Anaheim, Calif., said the firm`s Mike Crowley. ``It`s unfortunate that the price of the game has blown it out of the average Joe`s hand.`` The Jan. 31 game is being played at San Diego`s Jack Murphy Stadium, which seats 73,000, below the capacity of the 100,000- seat Rose Bowl, site of last year`s Super Bowl. ``It`s higher than last year,`` Crowley said. ``An end zone (at the Rose Bowl) would go for $400-$500. Your 50-yard line seats would go for $1,000-$1,500.`` tickets have a face value of $100. . .

Art Modell, who threatened last spring to sell the Cleveland Browns if the players went on strike, said he`s having far too much fun to consider selling the team now. ``I have no plans other than to continue on as we are doing,`` Modell said as the Browns prepared for Sunday`s AFC Championship Game in Denver. Modell, 62, bought the Browns in 1961. . .

Washington doesn`t expect to have cornerback Darrell Green available when it faces Minnesota in Sunday`s NFC title game. Green, who suffered pulled rib cartilage in the Redskins` 21-17 win over Chicago last Sunday, is listed as questionable, meaning there is a 50 percent chance he will play.

COLLEGES DELEGATES REVERSE FIELD, REJECT STRICTER STANDARDS

NCAA Division I schools decided not to institute the stricter athletic eligibility standards that had been approved just hours earlier. School representatives adopted the legislation, identified on the agenda as Proposition 39, by a 163-151 vote after much debate during the morning session in Nashville, Tenn. Upon returning from lunch, delegates brought up the matter again. This time, after many of the same arguments were advanced during debate, the delegates reversed themselves, defeating the measure 162-143. Division II schools, which generally have smaller athletic programs, approved the ``satisfactory progress rule`` both times. Effective Aug. 1, 1989, Division II athletes will need a 1.6 cumulative grade-point, based on a 4.0 scale, after their first season of competition to remain eligible. The standard increases to 1.8 after the second season and 2.0 after the third. With Proposition 39 out of the way, delegates breezed through the remaining business and adjourned. . .

Dondre Bausley, who led California junior colleges in rushing and scoring last season, signed a letter-of-intent to play at Oregon. The 5-foot-11, 190- pound running back at Los Angeles Valley College rushed for 1,454 yards and 22 touchdowns.